Roadway barrier system with restraining bracket and method of installation

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

00002This application is based upon the provisional application No. 60/358,731 filed on Feb. 25, 2002, the priority of which is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

000031. Field of the Invention

00004This invention relates generally to a roadway barrier with restraining system and a method for its installation, and in particular to such a roadway barrier with restraining system and method of installation for resisting lateral movement from roadway vibration forces, temperature changes and vehicular impacts while allowing sufficient longitudinal movement for thermal expansion and contraction.

000052. Description of Prior Art

00006Many roadway barriers in use today are rigid structures installed between opposing lanes of traffic to prevent head-on collisions. Often, they consist of a plurality of preformed sections of reinforced concrete. These sections are positioned in tandem on the roadway by crane or similar device and then secured together, end to end, by means of steel or like channel beams affixed with bolts or studs extending laterally through the preformed concrete sections.

00007Most barrier systems in use today rely solely on the weight of this system as the means of keeping the barrier in place and correctly aligned. However, these systems incur realignment maintenance costs, because they move in response to thermal expansion and contraction, roadway vibration forces and vehicle impacts.

heading-00008Identification of Objects of the Invention

00009The principal object of the invention is to maintain the alignment of existing roadway concrete barrier systems at their plan locations, restricting lateral movement from roadway vibration forces, temperature changes and vehicle impact forces while allowing longitudinal thermal expansion and contraction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

00010The present invention is directed to a roadway barrier with restraining system and a method of installation, and particularly to a roadway barrier with restraining system and method of installation for resisting lateral movement from roadway vibration forces, temperature changes and low-energy vehicular impacts while allowing sufficient longitudinal movement for thermal expansion and contraction. Such a barrier maintains alignment in plan location thereby reducing realignment maintenance costs. Furthermore, the present invention augments existing barrier systems commonly in use today, such as the New Jersey type, thereby reducing costs of retrofitting existing barriers and installing new barriers.

00011The barrier consists of a plurality of preformed sections of reinforced concrete positioned on the roadway in tandem. Preformed barrier sections are fastened together, end to end, with two channel beams at each joint, one on each vertical side of the barrier wall, near the base. In a barrier system without the restraining system of the present invention, the channel beams overlap each preformed barrier section and are affixed to the sections by through bolts or studs. However, with the restraining system of the present invention installed, the channel beams are similarly installed except that shims are inserted laterally between one channel beam and the two barrier sections. That is, the channel beams overlap each preformed barrier section and are affixed to the sections by bolts or studs which pass laterally through the channel beam on one side of the barrier wall, through a shim, through the preformed barrier section, and finally through the other channel beam on the opposite side of the barrier wall. The assembly is secured with washers and nuts as appropriate. The channel beams are typically affixed in this fashion with two bolts or studs passing through each preformed barrier section for a total of four bolts or studs per joint.

00012The shims form a cavity between the preformed barrier sections and the overlapping channel beam. This thin cavity houses vertical fin of an angular steel restraining bracket of the same thickness, centered longitudinally at the joint between the two preformed barrier sections, put in place prior to securing the channel beam. The horizontal base of this restraining bracket lies parallel and adjacent to the roadway surface, protrudes laterally past the channel beam and contains a slotted hole through which a bolt is anchored into a hole in the roadway using thick asphalt. Thus, the two barrier sections, joined by the channel beams, can slide along the fixed fin of the bracket within their combined cavity. The restraining bracket prevents lateral movement of the barrier, but permits longitudinal motion, the range of which is determined by the length of the bracket and the distance between the innermost edges of the two shims. The restraining brackets are placed at alternate sides of each joint in the barrier wall, if possible, although they may all be placed on one side if required.

00013A barrier with the restraining system of this invention will maintain alignment in plan location by resisting lateral movement from roadway vibration forces, temperature changes and low-energy vehicular impacts while allowing sufficient longitudinal movement for thermal expansion and contraction. The barrier restraining system of this invention is directly compatible with many existing barrier systems commonly in use today, such as the New Jersey type, thereby reducing costs of retrofitting existing barriers and installing new barriers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

00014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref> are top and front views, respectively, of a roadway barrier of preformed concrete sections, channel beam connectors and fastening hardware, with the restraining system of the present invention, comprised of shims, restraining brackets and anchor bolts;

00015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an enlarged front elevation of a joint formed between preformed barrier sections with an overlapping channel beam connector and restraining bracket;

00016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an enlarged cross section view along lines <b>4</b>—<b>4</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3 through a</figref> preformed barrier section and channel beam;

00017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a an enlarged section of a portion of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrating shim placement between the channel beam and preformed barrier section;

00018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an enlarged cross section view along lines <b>6</b>—<b>6</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrating the position of the angular restraining bracket and anchor bolt;

00019<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is perspective view of the restraining bracket;

00020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is an enlarged cross section view along lines <b>8</b>—<b>8</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrating a top view of a joint formed between two preformed barrier sections, showing a channel beam and the restraining bracket according to the present invention;

00021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is an enlarged cross section view along lines <b>9</b>—<b>9</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> showing the position of the restraining bracket, anchor bolt and shims in relation to the channel beam; and

00022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a perspective view of a shim.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

00023Referring now particularly to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, the roadway barrier with the restraining system of the present invention is shown schematically in top and front views, respectively. The roadway barrier is indicated generally at <b>11</b> and is secured to the surface of the roadway <b>12</b>. Barrier <b>11</b> is formed of a plurality of preformed barrier sections <b>13</b>A-<b>13</b>D in tandem, coupled with channel beam connectors <b>14</b>A-<b>14</b>F, and secured to roadway <b>12</b> at joints <b>16</b>A-<b>16</b>C between barrier sections <b>13</b>A-<b>13</b>D by restraining brackets <b>15</b>A-<b>15</b>C. Restraining brackets <b>15</b> are placed at alternate sides of each joint <b>16</b> in barrier <b>11</b> if possible, although they may all be placed on one side if required. Two channel beams <b>14</b> span each joint <b>16</b>, one on each vertical side of barrier <b>11</b>. The channel beams <b>14</b>A-<b>14</b>B are fixed to barrier sections <b>13</b>A-<b>13</b>B with two studs <b>17</b> passing through each preformed barrier section <b>13</b> for a total of four bolts or studs per joint <b>16</b>.

00024Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4</figref>, <b>5</b> and <b>6</b>, cross sectional views of barrier <b>11</b>, the channel beams <b>14</b>A and <b>14</b>B are affixed to the barrier section <b>13</b> by studs <b>17</b> which pass through channel beam <b>14</b>A on one side of the barrier wall, through a shim <b>19</b>, through the preformed barrier section <b>13</b>, and finally through the other channel beam <b>14</b>B on the opposite side of barrier <b>11</b>. While the studs <b>17</b> in this design have anchors <b>20</b> and are cast in the preformed barrier sections <b>13</b>, plain studs or bolts may alternatively be used. The assembly is secured with washers <b>21</b> and nuts <b>22</b> as appropriate.

00025Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, the restraining bracket <b>15</b> is made of one-fourth inch thick galvanized steel or like material and formed into a right angle shape with a vertical fin <b>25</b> and a horizontal base <b>26</b>. Bracket <b>15</b> has a slotted hole <b>23</b> on the horizontal base to accommodate anchor bolt <b>18</b>.

00026Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, shim <b>19</b> is made from polymeric or like material and contains a equal number of slots <b>24</b> as the number of studs <b>17</b> which pass through it. The spacing between the slots <b>24</b> is such as to accommodate the studs <b>17</b>. Shim <b>19</b> is the same thickness as the vertical fin <b>25</b> of restraining bracket <b>15</b>.

00027Shims <b>19</b>A and <b>19</b>B, positioned laterally between the preformed barrier sections <b>13</b>A and <b>13</b>B and the channel beam <b>14</b>, form a narrow cavity as illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, for placement of the vertical fin <b>25</b> of restraining bracket <b>15</b> centered longitudinally at joint <b>16</b>. The horizontal base <b>26</b> of restraining bracket <b>15</b> lies parallel and adjacent to roadway surface <b>12</b>. The shaft of anchor bolt <b>18</b> passes through slot <b>23</b> in the horizontal base <b>26</b> of bracket <b>15</b> and is set into a hole in the roadway <b>12</b> using thick asphalt. The restraining bracket <b>15</b> and the slotted hole <b>23</b> extend sufficiently outwardly from the channel beam <b>14</b> to allow the anchor bolt <b>18</b> to be installed without interference. The hole in roadway <b>12</b> is drilled to a depth equal to the length and at a diameter one-sixth inch larger than the diameter of anchor bolt <b>18</b>.

00028The restraining bracket <b>15</b> and anchor bolt <b>18</b> prevent lateral movement of barrier <b>11</b>, but permit longitudinal motion, the range of which is determined by the longitudinal length of the restraining bracket <b>15</b> and the distance between the innermost edges of shims <b>19</b>A and <b>19</b>B.

00029While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of the preferred embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are in the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.